Diplomatic Events

On Wednesday evening the Embassy of Brazil hosted a reception in honor of the 200 year anniversary of Brazil’s independence. The evening punctuated a week-long festival held at Tel Aviv port’s Hangar 11 as part of Casa Brasil, organized in conjunction with ApexBrasil. The guests at the gala were invited to taste Brazilian delicacies and hear live music, while enjoying an exclusive viewing of the expo of Brazilian imported goods as part of the Casa Brasil.

Ambassador Gerson Menandro Garcia de Freitas opened the evening, noting Brazil’s successes and achievements since gaining independence from Portugal in 1822. Today Brazil is one of the five largest countries in the world by size and population, and among the 10 largest economies in the world. The ambassador noted Brazil’s role in producing food for a billion people around the world, as well as a clean energy producer. Highlighting Brazil’s diversity and integration of citizens of different backgrounds, the ambassador observed that 400,000 Brazilians have Jewish ancestry.

Looking at Brazil-Israel relations, the ambassador announced that 2022 was a record year, with bilateral trade at 189% compared to 2021. Brazilian students attend all major Israeli universities, and the countries cooperate on a range of areas such as: Education, Culture, Science, Innovation, Agricultural Technology, Water Management, Health Technology, Defense, Space, and Cybersecurity. 

Among the important milestones the ambassador highlighted were: 80 years since Brazil’s declaration of war against the Nazis, with an expeditionary force of 25,000 soldiers sent to fight; 75 years since the 1947 UN General Assembly session, presided over by Brazilian Ambassador Oswaldo Aranha, “which approved the partition plan that led to the creation of the State of Israel”; and one year since Brazil joined the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The ambassador also recognized Brazil’s Righteous Among the Nations, including diplomats Madam Aracy Guimarães Rosa and Ambassador of Brazil to France Souza Dantas. He concluded his remarks by pointing out that despite many differences, Brazil and Israel share key similarities which bond the two nations.

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz spoke on behalf of the government of Israel. Minister Horowitz reiterated the importance of Brazil in Israel’s history, shepherding the key vote at the UN General Assembly in 1947. The minister thanked Brazil for providing consistent political support in multilateral forums, such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, and for opening a trade office in Jerusalem. The minister noted that with elections coming in both countries, he was confident that regardless of who was in power in each country, the bilateral relations between the two nations, resting on such a firm bedrock of support and respect, would continue to grow.

Among the distinguished guests in attendance were: Israeli Foreign Ministry's Chief of Protocol Gil Haskel; Jonathan Peled, Deputy Director General for Latin America and the Caribbean; Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv (and Brazilian native) Reuven Roberto Ladianski; Chief operating officer- Israel office Apex - Brasil, Felipe Martins Campbell; composer and musician Matti Caspi; award-winning Capoeira trainer Miki Chayat; actress Nitza Shaul and husband, orchestra conductor and musician Doron Salomon; Brazilian singer Elisete; Hernan Felman, vice chairman of KKL-JNF; of Stanley Morais, El Al Acting Director of International Affairs; radio broadcaster Dubi Lenz; Father Tomasz Grysa from the Vatican; Father Sostenies; Gabriel Hayon - President of the Diplomatic Institute; Stephen Abrahams from the Ministry of National Infrastructures Energy and Water Resources; Dr. Ori Preuss from Tel Aviv University, and literary translator Michal Shalev.

The Staff of www.diplomacy.co.il  congratulates the government, people, and Embassy of Brazil on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Brazilian Independence and the 73d anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Israel.